Humans have a varied diet, because we are omnivores we can eat both plant and animal matter. We have even gone as far as making meat substitutes out of plant matter.
Birds can also eat a variety of foods. Nectar, seeds, fruits, vegetables, suet, and birdseed aren’t the only foods that birds can eat, common kitchen scraps can also be fed to birds. The question on your mind may be: can pigeons eat oats, this article explores this topic.
Pigeons can definitely eat oats, not only are oats good for humans but they are good for pigeons as well. Oats contain carbohydrates, antioxidants, and fiber. Both cooked and uncooked oats can be fed to pigeons and you can add fruit for more variety to the dish
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Can pigeons eat oats?
Pigeons can definitely eat oats. Oats have high nutritional value whether cooked or uncooked. This food contains high amounts of protein, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and fiber.
Nutrients in oats that will benefit pigeons:
Protein:
The high protein content in oats helps make up the building blocks of your pigeon’s muscle and tissue. A lack of protein will seriously affect the way a bird does everyday activities.
A lack of protein can cause decreased muscle tone which will negatively affect the bird’s ability to fly. Decreased muscle tone can also negatively affect a birds ability to perch and negatively affect the bird’s ability to coordinate its muscles when eating
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates deliver energy to pigeons. When birds eat foods that contain carbohydrates, such as oats, the carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes in the bird’s body and are then turned into glucose.
Glucose is a pigeon’s main energy source. Oats are complex carbohydrates which take longer to break down and thus take longer to deliver sugar to the bloodstream.
Because these types of carbohydrates are broken down slowly, the sugar is released more slowly and is thus more regulated
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are needed to maintain healthy feathers in pigeons. If your bird takes long-duration flights the antioxidants in oats may help reduce the stress it feels caused by these long flights.
Fiber
Fiber is another type of carbohydrate. Because fiber can’t be broken down and sent into the bloodstream it helps with digestion.
How to feed pigeons oats:
There are a variety of ways to feed oats to pigeons. You can mix uncooked oats in with your pigeon’s regular bird feed and they will happily feed on this grain.
You can also cook the oats and feed them to your feathered friend. Cooking oats makes them easier to swallow, cooking oats does not decrease the grain’s nutritional value.
If you want to add variety to this meal you can add in some chopped-up fruits. The added fruits will not only be a sweet and delicious addition, but they will also deliver additional nutrients to your bird
If you’re looking to feed backyard pigeons you can sprinkle the uncooked oats on a platter feeder and let the birds eat at their leisure. Adding oats to a suet ball recipe is also a great way to incorporate this food into their diet.
Sprinkling the oats on the floor allows outdoor pigeons to forage for the food as they would in the wild. Doing this helps them get some exercise in as well.
What to avoid when feeding oats to pigeons
Milk:
Avoid adding milk to oats meant for pigeons. Pigeons, and birds overall, are largely lactose intolerant. These small animals can have small amounts of milk but can develop diarrhea if they ingest large amounts of milk.
Sugar:
Just as with humans, too much sugar is not good for pigeons. Not only is sugar overly processed, but it does not offer birds any nutritional value. In addition, sugar can weaken your bird’s immune system and can cause depression and anxiety
Honey:
If you’re considering adding honey to your bird’s oats, you should reconsider. This food may be great for humans but it should not be given to pigeons.
Honey can harbor bacteria and mold that a bird’s body cannot fight off, these can even be fatal to pigeons. Even the best quality honey runs this risk of harboring bacteria and mold
In addition, avoid feeding pigeons oats while they are in the egg-laying phase. This is because oats cause pigeons to produce weak eggshells
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes birds can have oats, in fact, oats are a great source of protein, antioxidants, fiber, and carbohydrates, all these nutrients are essential for pigeon survival.
Adding fruits to your bird’s oats will make the food more enjoyable and nutrient-rich. Avoid serving oats with milk, honey, or sugar to pigeons. Oats can be served raw or cooked
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other pigeon related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Do pigeons eat clay?, Do pigeons eat chicken?, Do pigeons eat bugs?, Do pigeons eat meat?
